Electrical switch device



June 3, 1930. c. M. PETERSEN ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE Filed March 27, 1928 Patented June 3, 1930 --PAIENT OFFICE CARL iut. PETERSEN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASS'IGNR To CIRCLE F MFG. co., OF

` TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0E NEW JERSEY f ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE Application led March 27, 1928. Serial No. 265,151.

This invention relates to electrical switches,

and more particularly to a switch mechanism adapted for use in connection with electrical sockets or receptacles.

To that end the invention contemplates a construction especially adapted for providing a momentary contact, that is, a temporary closing of the circuit, thereby particularly adapting the switch for use in connection with electrical sockets intended to receive a resistance unit of the type used in lighting cigars and cigarettes. That is to say, a primary object of the invention is to provide a snap switch mechanism of extreme simplicity which is susceptible of embodiment in various electrical devices, particularly those where a momentary contact is desired, as for -instance in a socket for electrical cigar lighters where the circuit is temporarily closed by finger pressure and released upon its removal.

The present invention also contemplates a simple and practical socket for electrical cigar lighters in which a novel and useful form of socket body is used, the salne being particularly adapted for a cigar lighter in which the switch mechanism is completely housed and insulated.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in' the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l isa vertical sectional view of the improved socket and switch construction with the switch in its open position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the switch closed.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view with the insulating filling plug removed.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspcctiif'e View of the contact spring.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the novel switch mechanism designated generally as A is adapted to be concealed and housed within a special type of insulating body B constituting a socket or receptacle for receiving and supporting the plug element, such as a resistance unit, which becomes sufficiently h`ot upon the closing of 'the circuit to enable a cigar or cigarette to be lighted. The said body B, however, may of course assume other forms according to other adaptations of use of the switch mechanism, but in every instance it will provide a housing or casing for the switch mechanism as well as the switch terminals and the socket terminals.

Referring to the drawings, it will be ob- `served that the body B is preferably of elongated formation and includes an enlarged base portion l having therein a recess 2 which communicates with an interior switch chamber 2"L whose upper end is formed by the transverse wall 3 ofthe body. This wall 3 also forms one end of a chamber 4 for receivmg the plug-receiving screw-shell 5 which is secured to the wall 3 by the screw or equivalent fastening 6. vIn that connection it will be .observed that the metallic screw-shell 5 is insulated from the fastening 6 by the insulating washer 7 so that the head of the screw 6 constitutes a center plug contact for the socket while the nut 8 on the screw constitutes one of the switch terminals as will presently appear.

The screw-shell 5 is adapted to be included in the electrical circuit through the medium of the end 9 of the conductor strap l0 being soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The said strap 10 passes through a slot in the wall 3 and is provided with a laterally Oii'set portion 11 which is adapted to have the wire l2 of the line wire W soldered thereto as shown in Fig. 4. The other wire 13 of the line wire W is preferably soldered or Otherwise secured to the novel switch element or spring S as indicated at 14 in Fig. 4. It will therefore be apparent thatwhen the switch element or spring S is manipulated to bring its upper end into contact with the nut 8 (see Fig. 2) the circuit will be closed to the device held within the screw-shell 5, and On L"the lower end 17 thereof forms an attaching the other hand when the switch sprin is in` the position shown in Fig. 1 the circuit will be opened.

As previously indicated, the switch mecha-V nism A. which includes the spring S and its actuator or manipulator Mfisoneof the novel and distinctive eatures 'of the resentinf vention,.and as will be observe drawings the said spring includes a body portion contact blade 15 having one end formed 't provide a contact end 16 for engaging with the nut 8, or its equivalent, while base which permits the springtobeanehored or held. at the bott@ srytthat' the body 15 willbe free to lex The said end 17 is preferably reverse/ly'vbowed as clearly shown in Fi'gs. 1, 2 and v5 so that it may have a. tight "friction lit at the three points of contact, a, b, and c, in the lslots 18 formed in the opposlte walls of the chamber 2. The intermediate ortion of the body 15 of the spring is cut to orm an actuating or tensioning leaf acting as a spring arm 19 which' is pressed or bent out of the plane of the body to provide a normally offset free end portion 20` which may be notched as indicated at 21 to receive the recessed end 22 of the shank of the actuator M which, as shown, may be provided with the usual insulated linger button or handle 23. The recessed end of the shank 22 of the actuator is pressed into locking engagement with the'notched end of the leaf 19 by a coil spring 24 which is held between the abutment 25 on the -body 15 of the spring S and the abutment 26l on the shank'of the.; actuator. v From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a. spring switch member S having special features and characteristicswhich cause it to snap from one position t'o another by the application of pressure to a ortion thereof resulting in the tensioning oip the part to which pressure is applied to shift or flex the other part of the spring in the direction opposite from which the actuating force or pressure is applied. In other words, by applyin pressure to the leaf 19 the body 15 will be exed rst toone side and then the other of the leaf 19 as soon as the leaf 19 passes over the common center line of the two members. Therefore, an essential feature of the invention resides in the provision of a suitably mounted spring arm normally deflected to one side of the contact blade so that when pressure is applied to the same it will result in a tension which will manifest itself in movement of the blade. As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit is open due to the fact that the contact end 16 rests against the insulation of the body. However, when finger pressure is applied to the actuator `M, as shown in Fig. 2, the said actuator being moved at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the spring S, the leaf from the 19`1gill be placed under stress, and as soon as it passes thecenter line ofthe body .15

the compressed 24Y will 'act vto throvvi'r' V the free upper end of the body vin the direction opposite to the application of linger pressure. en finger pressure is released the coil spring 24, and the spring of the parts 15 and 19 act jointly to automatically snap the switch parts to the initial position they occupy, as 1n Fig. 1. It will be understood that when the actuator M'to its nmal position, the

.Y outward movement of the actuator will be arrested by the abutment 27 on the shank of the actuator. y

Also for the purpose of completely housing and sealing the switch chamber 2, the lower end thereof may be provided with a fibre disk 28 which in turn is provided with a layer of sealm wax 29.

Wi out further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will he readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim electrical device of a momentaryc tact type including a fixed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a contact blade, a spring arm having one end portion thereof free and laterally deflected with respect to said contact blade, and

means between the free end portion of said spring arm and said blade for moving the latter with a snap action to and from engagement with said fixed contact.A

2. An electrical' device of a momentarycontact type including a fixed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a contact blade having integral therewith, a spring arm ha an end portion thereof free and laterally deflected with respect to said contact blade, and means between the free end portion of said spring arm and said blade for moving the latter with a snap action into and from engagement with said fixed contact.

3. An electrical device of a momentarycontact type including a fixed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a bodyA portion forming a spring contact blade slotted to provide a spring arm having a free end portion laterally displaced with respect to the blade, and means supported by said spring arm and connected with said blade for moving the latter with a snap action into and from engagement with said fixed contact. Y

4. An electrical device of a momentarycontact type including a xed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a contact blade held rigidly at one end and free to move into and from engagement with said fixed contact at the other end, said blade being provided with a laterally delected spring arm, an actuator supported by said spring arm, and means .between said act-uator and said blade for moving the latter with a snap action into and from engagement with said ixed contact.

5. An electrical device of the momentary- Contact type including a fixed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a contact blade having rigid therewith a laterally deflected spring armadapted to be flexed under tension to Vone side of the plane of the contact blade, an actuating device engaging the end of the spring arm,

and a spring between sai-d actuating device and the free end portion ofthe contact blade.

6. An electrical device of the momentary contact type including a xed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a contact blade having rigid therewith a laterally deflected spring arm adapted to be flexed under tension to one side of the plane of the contact blade, a push button actuator for engaging the free end of the spring arin, and a coil spring interposed between the free end portion of the blade and the end of the push button that engages with the free end of the spring arm.

7. An electrical device of a momentarycontact type including a fixed contact and a movable switch member included in the electrical circuit, said switch member consisting of a contact bladehaving rigid therewith a spring arm normally laterally deflected to one side of the blade and adapted to be flexed under tension to the opposite side of the blade, means for fiexing the spring arm to the opposite side of said blade, and means between said last named meansy and the blade for moving the latter into and from engagement with said fixed contact.

8,. A snap switch comprising a fixed con another position of said actuator to move said blade away from said contact, and ung means separate from said Erst mentlone in one of the aforesaid positions. Y

9. A sna switch comprising a fixed contact, a bla e constituting a contact 'movable into and from engagement with said fixed contact, a iem'ble arm rigidly connected with said blade, a blade actuator supported by said arm, and means between sald actuator and said blade operable by movement of said actuator to move said blade into engagement with said contact.

10. A snap switch comprising a fixed contact, a blade constituting a contact movable into and from engagement with said fixed contact, a flexible arm rigidly connected with said blade, a blade actuator supported by' said arm for movement between two positions, and means between said` actuator and said blade operable by movement of said actuator to one of its positions to move said blade into engagement with said contact, and by movement of said actuator to the other of its positions to move said blade away from said contact, said arm having a normal flexure maintaining said actuator'normallyin one of its aforesaid two positions.

fixed` con- 11. A snap switch comprising a tact, a contact member movable into and from engagement with said contact, a spring arm, an actuator for said contact member supported by said spring arm, and means between said actuator and said contact member whereby movement of the latter is effective to move the Yformer with a snap action into and from engagement with said contact.

12. A snap switch comprising a fixed contact, a blade constituting a contact movable into and from engagement with said fixed contact, a. flexible arm rigidly connected with 4 Y said blade, a blade actuator supported by said arm for movement between two posltions, and spring means Vbetween said actuator and said blade operable by movement of said actuator to one of its positions to move said blade into engagement with said contact, and by movement of said actuator to the other of its positions to move blade away from said contact, said arm having a normal exure maintaining said actuator normally in one of its aforesaid two positions. Y Y

13. A snap switch comprising a fixed colltact, a blade constituting a contact movable into and from engagement with said fixed contact, a spring arm rigidly-connected at Y one end with said blade and free at its other end to move with respect to said blade, and means between the last mentioned end of said spring arm and said blade for moving the latter with asna action into and from engagement with sai fixed contact.

- In testimony whereof. I hereunto ax my signature.

' CARL M. PETERSEN.

Vspring means holding said actuator normally 

